Elvish Yadav on Allegations of Scam in NGO Referenced by SMA Charity Event

YouTuber Elvish Yadav, who won the second season of Bigg Boss OTT 2, recently reacted to accusations of an NGO scam that came to light after he posted a fundraising message for children fighting Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) when one child came to him for aid. Elvish Yadav said that he did not charge any fees for arranging any aid.

This incident picked up pace after comedian Munawar Faruqui, the winner of Bigg Boss Season 17, made comments on the fundraising campaigns conducted by influencers. Although Munawar did not mention anyone in particular in his comments, some social media users thought he was referring to the fundraising initiative by Elvish for acquiring the costly life-saving injection for the child.

To counter the reaction, Elvish posted a video on X (Twitter). "I am seeing everyone on the internet saying I have done scam by taking money, firstly I don't take money to help someone. So what is the logic this time?" Elvish asked in a query, expressing confusion over the logic that anyone seeking help would give money to help others, as if confirming again that he does not charge anyone for help.

The social media influencer also emphasized the transparency involved when fundraising. He explained that all the details involved in the fundraising, including the barcode of the NGO and the payment links, were all visible and open to the public. Elvish further explained that before sharing the appeal, he actually check the medical reports and credentials of the doctors involved to ensure the authenticity of the case.

In a sign of frustration regarding the criticism, Elvish commented, "This is too much. People just want to degrade others. Mind your own business" His comment was a manifestation of frustration over the negative responses that filled the online community regarding this well-meaning endeavor.

A statement issued by Elvish Yadav Sweaterwala categorically denies any impression of fraudulent intention and reiterated his intention of helping a child in need, as seen in the growing concerns over the influencer-led donation campaign.

This article is authored by Sakshi, an intern from Deccan Chronicle.